ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Science & Technology
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh says, more than one lakh SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced till November 2021 for COVID-19
Minister also informs that a large number of COVID-19 Bio-repositories and samples were made available to academia and industry for product development
Union Minister of State  Science & Technology; Minister of State  Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that more than one lakh SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced till November 2021 for COVID-19.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, the Minister informed that the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium  being coordinated by the Department of Biotechnology , as on 25th November 2021 has sequenced 1,02,880 SARS-CoV-2 genomes.
A total of 17 COVID-19 Bio-repositories have been notified by the Government of India on 23-05-2020. These are set up at laboratories of Department of Biotechnology , Council of Scientific & Industrial Research  and Indian Council of Medical Research .
On the question of the number of COVID-19 Bio-repositories and samples that were made available to academia and industry for product development, the Minister gave the following details:
DBT funded Biorepository at ILBS, New Delhi has shared 1299 samples with academia. ILS, Bhubaneswar has provided samples from the biorepository to 18 research and development projects. NCCS, Pune has shared a total of 124 samples so far with academia and industry. InSTEM, Bangalore has shared a total of 363 samples so far with academia and industry. NCR Biotech Science Cluster Translational Health Science and Technology Institute & Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad have shared a total of 20890 samples so far with academia and industry.
CSIR-CCMB shared about 200 samples with incubatees at CCMB- Atal Incubation Centre for development of interferometry antibody detection, 200 samples for development of in house Elisa based assays, and about 250 samples were shared for development of RT-PCR assays. Samples have also been utilized for testing and validating technologies/ products developed by industries. CSIR-IGIB Bio-repository has been used to help testing and validation of diagnostic products. CSIR-IMTECH made available 15 samples for academic research in IMTECH and 30 samples were shared with PGIMER, Chandigarh for quality control analysis of RT-PCR testing.
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Ministry of Railways
Various measures by Indian railways to prevent Cattle Run Over incidents
The number of trains affected by cattle run overs since 2019 is as under:
|
|
Financial Year
|
|
Number of instances of Cattle
Run Over on Indian Railways
|
|
Number of Trains lost punctuality
due to Cattle Run Over
|
|
2019-2020
|
|
27057
|
|
37067
|
|
2020-2021
|
|
19960
|
|
23164
|
|
2021-2022
|
|
28727
|
|
36060
|
|
2022-2023

|
|
26180
|
|
35734
All electric and diesel locomotives are provided with cattle guard for protecting locomotives from the cattle hits. Hence, the quantum of financial loss i.e. amount spent on related damage/repair of such incidents is nominal.
A number of preventive measures have been taken by Zonal Railways to reduce animal fatalities on Railway track, which include the following:
 Cleaning of garbage and removal of wild vegetation along the track.
- Sensitization of Train Crew on a regular basis for frequent whistling at locations prone for cattle/animal run over.
- Construction of fencing/boundary wall at identified locations of trespass by cattle/animal and approaches of major towns.
- Counselling of villagers for taking necessary steps to avoid cattle coming near track through safety seminar/propagandas in villages.
- Avoid dumping of food waste along railway track to avoid unnecessary congregation of animals near railway track.
The number of cases registered under section 154 and 147 of the Railway Act, 1989 against persons whose cattle are found moving in railway land and number of persons arrested since 2019, are as under:
|
|
Year
|
|
Number of cases registered
|
|
Number of persons arrested
|
|
Under section
147
|
|
Under section
154
|
|
Under section
147
|
|
Under section
154
|
|
2019
|
|
35
|
|
16
|
|
35
|
|
16
|
|
2020
|
|
196
|
|
30
|
|
191
|
|
14
|
|
2021
|
|
225
|
|
108
|
|
217
|
|
55
|
|
2022
|
|
356
|
|
72
|
|
348
|
|
58
This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronic & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM greets people on Nuakhai Juhar
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people on the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai Juhar.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "The special occasion of Nuakhai is about celebrating the hardwork of our farmers. It is due to their efforts that our nation is fed.
May this auspicious day bring prosperity and good health for everyone.
Nuakhai Juhar!"
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Cabinet approves MoU between UPSC and CSCM
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Memorandum of Understanding  between Union Public Service Commission  and Civil Service Council of Mongolia .
The MoU will strengthen the existing relationship between CSCM and UPSC. It will facilitate sharing of experience and expertise of both the parties in the area of recruitment.
Ministry of Railways
Rail Connectivity to Buddhist Pilgrimage Centres
The following works of New Lines have been included in Budget and are in different stages of execution to connect Buddhist Pilgrimage Centres:
- Gaya-Bodhgaya-Chatra, Gaya-Natesar
- Rajgir-Hisua-Tilaiya, Natesar-Islampur
- Kapilvastu-Basti
- Bahraich-Shravasti-Balrampur/Tulsipur
- Padrauna-Kushinagar via Gorakhpur
This information was given by the Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Shri Sonowal underlines importance of cross-border connectivity among developing nations of South-East Asia; Addresses ASEAN summit on Future of India-ASEAN Connectivity Partnerships
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and AYUSH Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has underlined the importance of cross-border connectivity among India and developing nations of South-East Asia. Addressing the ASEAN summit on Future of India-ASEAN Connectivity Partnerships virtually from New Delhi today, the Minister said, greater connectivity between ASEAN nations has long been both an economic and strategic objective for the ASEAN–India partnership. He said, connectivity provides the transmission channels through which development impulses can spread across the region and can add to the dynamism of economic and social progress.
The Minister said, India–ASEAN free trade agreement  is central to India’s growing engagement with her eastern neighbours. In this direction, he said, extension of the Trilateral Highway to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam will enable greater connectivity and economic integration of India's northeast with its eastern neighbours. He informed that India has helped construct two key stretches of the 1,360-km trilateral highway in Myanmar, but work on several other sections and the upgrade of nearly 70 bridges has been held up by a variety of factors. This highway will allow access to markets across the ASEAN region and boost people-to-people ties.
Shri Sonowal emphasised upon setting up of National Transport Facilitation Committees  of member countries to facilitate cross-border transportation and trade. He said, the physical connectivity between India and Neighbouring south-east Asian countries will enable small and medium-sized enterprises in the border areas to explore new business opportunities.
The Ministeralso stressed upon the need to realise that India and ASEAN are fast-growing consumer markets with a growing middle class and young population that is increasingly digitally connected. As such beyond movement of goods and physical connectivity, it is also important for two regions to explore ways to enhance digital connectivity. He said, the Government of India has been making efforts to turn India into a “Global Data Hub” through various policies and reforms. India’s data centre industry is expected to add 560 MW during 2021-23 leading to a real estate requirement of 6 million sq ft. He added that the industry is expected to grow exponentially to reach 1,007 MW by 2023 from 447 MW.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Updates on Covid-19-1
India now has more than 2 lakh persons cured of covid19
Recovery rate improves to 53.79%
With the confirmation of 10,386 patients having recovered from COVID-19 in the last 24 hrs, the total number of recovered patients is now 2,04,710. The recovery rate consequently rose to 53.79%. Currently, 1,63,248 active cases are under medical supervision.
The trend in the daily numbers shows an increasing rate of recovery, and an increasing gap between active and recovered cases. The increase in the proportion of recovered cases is a demonstration of India’s strategy of timely management of COVID-19.
Proactive measures like implementation of lockdown, sensitization of the general public to COVID appropriate behaviour by Government of India in coordination with the States/UTs, have significantly restricted the spread. The lockdown provided a breathing space for the government to ramp up the testing facilities and health infrastructure which ensured improved recovery rate by timely detection and clinical management of COVID-19 cases. This increasing gap is thus a result of the timely, graded, pre-emptive approach of the government to contain COVID19 and its implementation by countless frontline workers.
.
The number of government labs has been increased to 703 and private labs has been increased to 257 . The break-up is given as:
Real-Time RT PCR based testing labs: 541 
TrueNat based testing labs: 345 
CBNAAT based testing labs: 74 
In the last 24 hours, 1,76,959 samples were tested. The total number of samples tested thus far is 64,26,627.
The Ministry released an advisory for managing Health care workers working in COVID and Non-COVID areas of the hospital which can be accessed at
Page 1 of 4 Dated 18th June, 2020 Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Directorate General of Health Services 
The Ministry has also issued an illustrated guide for COVID appropriate behaviour which can be accessed at
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Illustrativeguidelineupdate.pdf
For all authentic & updated information on COVID-19 related technical issues, guidelines & advisories please regularly visit: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/ and @MoHFW_INDIA .
Technical queries related to COVID-19 may be sent to technicalquery.covid19[at]gov[dot]in and other queries on ncov2019[at]gov[dot]in and @CovidIndiaSeva .
In case of any queries on COVID-19, please call at Ministry of Health & Family Welfare helpline no.: +91-11-23978046 or 1075 . List of helpline numbers of States/UTs on COVID-19 is also available at https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/coronvavirushelplinenumber.pdf .
Cabinet
Cabinet apprised of Joint Issue of Postage Stamps by India and South Africa
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of Joint Issue of Postage Stamps by India and South Africa on the theme “125th Year of Mahatma Gandhi’s Pietermaritzburg Station Incident & Birth Centenary of Nelson Mandela”. The MoU on the Joint Issue of Postage Stamp was signed on 24th July 2018.
India and South Africa mutually agreed to jointly issue Postage Stamps on India-South Africa: Joint Issue on the theme “125th Year of Mahatma Gandhi’s Pietermaritzburg Station Incident & Birth Centenary of Nelson Mandela”. The Joint Stamps were released on 26th July 2018.
The Commemorative Postage Stamps on the above theme depict images of “Mahatma Gandhi” of India and “Nelson Mandela” of South Africa.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Plan to kick start cashless treatment of motor accident victims
Views of the States and UTs sought on the concept note
Scheme designed to provide access to quality care irrespective of paying capacity
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has prepared a blue print for implementing the scheme of cashless treatment of motor accident victims, as contemplated under the MV Act 2019. This includes treatment of victims during the crucial Golden hour.
The ministry has written to principal secretaries and secretaries in charge of transport in all States and union territories soliciting their views on concept note of the cheme by the 10th of this month. The scheme also includes creation of a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.
The National Health Authority being the nodal agency for PM-JAY and having footfall across the country with over 21,000 hospitals on board has been entrusted to implement the scheme.
It has been envisaged in the scheme to provide compulsory insurance cover to all Road users in the country. The Fund would be utilised for treatment of road accident victims and for payment of compensation to the injured or to the family of person losing life in hit and run cases. The proposed modalities of the scheme have been designed in a way that they allow access to quality care at the right time for all individuals, irrespective of their capability to pay.
Ministry of Mines
Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana
As per the Information available with Ministry of Mines, District MineralFoundations  have been constituted in 600 districts in 22 States. All these States haveincorporated PMKKKY guidelines into their DMF Rules. The overall objective of PMKKKYscheme will be  to implement various developmental and welfare projects/programs inmining affectedareas,andtheseprojects/programswillbecomplementing theexistingongoing schemes/projects of State and Central Government;  to minimize/mitigate theadverse impacts, during and after mining, on the environment, health and socio-economics ofpeople in mining districts; and  to ensure long-term sustainable livelihoods for the affectedpeoplein miningareas.
The Mines and Minerals  Amendment Act, 2021which came into effect on 28.03.2021 further empowers the Central Government to issuedirections to the State Governments with respect to composition and functions of DMF.Accordingly Central Government issued order on 23.04.2021 to all the States to include MPs,MLAs and MLCs in the Governing Council in the larger public interest. Moreover, Ministryof Mines issued order dated 12.7.2021 to ensure that the fund available in DMF shall not betransferred/spent to anyfundorpurposes otherthan as prescribed under MMDR Act.
This information was given by The Minister of Mines, Coal and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Rural Development
Mission Amrit Sarovar- A high level meeting held to review the progress of the Mission under the chairmanship of Secretary, Rural Development
With a view to conserve water for the future, the Prime Minister launched a new Mission on Amrit Sarovar on 24th April 2022. The Mission is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country as a part of celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.In total, it would lead to creation of 50,000 water bodies of a size of about an Acre or more.
This Mission has been launched with a whole of Government Approach in which 6 Ministries/Department namely Dept of Rural Development , Department of land resources, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Department of Water resources, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate changes. Also BhaskaracharyaNational Institute for Space Application and Geo-informaticshas been engaged as Technical partner for the Mission. The Mission works through the States and Districts, through refocusing of various schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, XV Finance Commission Grants, PMKSY sub schemes such as Watershed Development Component, Har Khet Ko Pani besides States’ own schemes. It may also be mentioned that the Mission encourages mobilisation of citizen and non-govt resources for supplementing these efforts.
Secretary, Rural Development, Shri Nagendra Nath Sinha chaired a high level meeting today to review the progress of Mission Amrit Sarovar, in which Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary and Secretary , Rural Development of all States/UTs, State Nodal officer for the Mission Amrit Sarovar , DM/DC/CEOs of over 700 districts along with District Nodal officers of the Mission took part.
The Mission Amrit Sarovar is to be completed by 15th August 2023. Around 50,000 such Amrit Sarovar may be constructed in the country. Each of these Amrit Sarovar will have approx. area of 1 acre with a water holding capacity of 10,000 cubic meter.
People’s participation in the Mission is the focal point. Local freedom fighter, their family members, Martyr’s family members, Padma Awardee and citizens of the local area wherein an Amrit Sarovar is to be constructed, will be engaged at all stages. On every 15th August, National Flag hoisting will be organised on every Amrit Sarovar site .
Secretary requested all the States to ensure the completion of All Amrit Sarovar in a planned manner .He further emphasised the use of technology at every stage of the execution.States were requested to form the water structure user’sassociation and impart required training for better development of the Amrit Sarovars. Technical and other concerns of the States were addressed. Overall, the States/UTs given very positive response to the Mission.
So far, 12,241 sites are finalised for construction of Amrit Sarovarsby States/Districts, out of which works has started on 4,856Amrit Sarovars.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Tree plantation for Special Campaign 2.0 at DST campus targets swachhata goals like prevention of air pollution, soil erosion & groundwater depletion
An old warehouse for storage of food grains imported by USAID under Public Law --PL-480 is now a lush green campus of the Department of Science and Technology  with a variety of trees that can keep the ambience resplendent with flowers through the year and fruit trees to draw flocks of birds.
The Special Swacchata Campaign 2.0 has added 160 flowering trees and 150 fruit trees to the 100 already present on the campus, enriching the ecosystem around it and targeting long terms goals of swachhata like purification of air, prevention of soil erosion, and enhancement of groundwater levels.
During the construction of new buildings to accommodate staff, 100 trees of Neem, Peepal, Gul Mohar, Bottle Brush of were found on campus. Of these, more than 50 plants were hindering the construction work. As a green building measure, these plants were not removed but transplanted within the campus. Besides, to increase the green cover of the campus, around 160 saplings of flowering trees like Gulmohar, Palash, Amaltas, Basant Rani, and Indian Cork Tree were planted, most of which have thrived with care and maintenance.
Saplings of fruit trees like Mango, Pomegranate, and Amla were also planted to attract birds in association with Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya. These 150 saplings planted will bear fruits in the years to come and enhance not just the ambience of the campus but also enrich the entire ecosystem around it, leading to sustainable urban management.
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Ministry of Defence
1TS VISIT TO MADAGASCAR
Indian Naval Ship INS Shardul made a port call at Antsiranana, Madagascar as part of First Training Squadron’s  Overseas Deployment from 21 – 24 Mar 21. Officer trainees of the 99th Integrated Officer Training Course are embarked onboard during the ship’s visit.
Adhering to Covid19 protocols, the port call was conducted in a non-contact format and a virtual conference with officials of Madagascar Armed Forces was held on 23 Mar 21. The conference was attended by Gen Montrogue Fitz Gerald , Captain Sam HiengTwion , Capt Aftab Ahmed Khan  and Cdr Akshay Khanna . The Chief of Ankarana Defence Zone welcomed the ship and appreciated the growing relations between the defence forces of two nations. The conference was followed by a visit of Captain Sam HiengTwion, Naval Base Commander, Antsirana to INS Shardul.
INS Shardul and Malagasy Navy ship MNS Trozona carried out a Passage Exercise  on 24 Mar 21. The Joint exercise bears testimony to the growing bonds between the maritime forces of both the nations and aimed at common objectives of ensuring maritime security by India and Madagascar and interoperability between the two navies.
1TS forms a part of Southern Naval Command , which is the training command of the Indian Navy, headed by Vice Admiral AK Chawla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command. India and Madagascar share a strong maritime relation and visit by the First Training Squadron to Antsiranana is a step towards further strengthening the bonds of friendship between the two nations.
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Ministry of Commerce & Industry
India and Bangladesh hold Commerce Secretary level meeting in New Delhi
The Commerce Secretary level meeting between India and Bangladesh was held in New Delhi on 15-16 January 2020. The Indian delegation was led by Commerce Secretary, Government of India, Anup Wadhawan and the Bangladesh delegation was led by Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Government of Bangladesh, Dr. Md. Jafar Uddin.
Both sides held extensive discussions on a variety of issues of mutual interest, like Border Haats, joint study for the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, India-Bangladesh CEOs’ Forum, sharing of trade data, regional connectivity initiatives, harmonization of standards, upgradation of border trading infrastructure and facilitation of business visas.
The meeting was preceded by the 12th meeting of the Joint Working Group  on Trade, at the level of Additional Secretaries of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India and Ministry of Commerce, Bangladesh on 13-14 January 2020 in New Delhi. Technical discussions were held in detail on various areas of mutual interest in trade and commerce.
It was agreed that the next meetings of the Commerce Secretaries and the JWG will be held in Bangladesh, at mutually convenient dates.
Prime Minister's Office
PM congratulates Pramod Bhagat for winning Gold medal in Badminton at Paralympics Games
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated Pramod Bhagat for winning Gold medal in Badminton at the Paralympics Games in Tokyo.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;
"Pramod Bhagat has won the hearts of the entire nation. He is a Champion, whose success will motivate millions. He showed remarkable resilience & determination. Congratulations to him for winning the Gold in Badminton. Best wishes to him for his future endeavours. @PramodBhagat83"